With the offseason program in the rearview, Chicago Bears’ rookies will report to training camp on July 19, with veterans showing up three days later on July 22, per the NFL in an announcement along with the schedules for the 31 other teams on June 18.
This team has done well to address their various need areas, leaving little to question about starting jobs. They are not without uncertainty, though.
With that in mind, here are four positions to keep an eye on later this summer.
LT Among Potential Position Battles in Bears Training Camp
Braxton Jones Has Competition
Former fifth-round draft pick Braxton Jones started every game as a rookie. Since then, however, Jones has battled various injuries that have hindered his development and the continuity along the offensive line.
He has also missed the entire on-field portion of the Bears’ offseason program recovering from an ankle injury that required surgery.
That absence has allowed for rookie second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo to gain valuable reps.
Heading into training camp, Trapilo at least looms as a threat to Jones’ job should the latter not return to his rookie form. Remember, the Bears’ new coaching staff, helmed by head coach Ben Johnson, has no ties to Jones.
The Bears selected Trapilo with the No. 56 overall pick, a premium selection to be sure. He has also been out front for the Bears this offseason.
The Bears also have 2024 third-round pick Kiran Amegadjie, who filled in for Jones last season.
Some projected Amegadjie as a guard coming out of college. Having Trapilo could allow the Bears to try him there in camp. They did not do that during the offseason program. However, rookie sixth-rounder Luke Newman operated at center this spring. So, it could make sense.
Johnson and Bears general manager Ryan Poles, who drafted Jones, have said they want to have their front five settled pretty early on.
Jones had better get back healthy and on the field.
RB Options After D’Andre Swift
Starting running back D’Andre Swift has so far escaped the addition of a true challenger this offseason, and he gets a second chance to make a first impression on Johnson, who was with the Detroit Lions when they traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
Behind Swift, though, there remains some uncertainty.
Roschon Johnson, a fourth-round pick in 2023, returns and profiles as the best option to reprise his role as the short-yardage and goal-line back this season.
He could cede touches to rookie seventh-rounder Kyle Monangai, who seemingly straddles the line between Johnson and Swift as a compact runner with more wiggle than the former and more power than the latter.
Their free agent options are limited at this point.
A trade could always emerge if the candidate catches the Bears’ eye. They also have 2024 undrafted free agent Ian Wheeler, rookie UDFA Deion Hankins, and veteran Travis Homer.
Veteran WR Could Face Late Push From Rookie
At first glance, this would not seem like a true position battle. We know DJ Moore and Rome Odunze will lead the way in targets if all goes well. Behind them, offseason free agent pickup Olamide Zaccheaus has operated as the third receiver during the spring.
However, that has come with 2025 second-round pick Luther Burden III sidelined since rookie minicamp.
Johnson expects Burden to be back on the field for training camp.
If so, he should offer an immediate challenge to Zacchaeus, who has already shown glimpses of being a reliable safety blanket for Caleb Williams. Burden not only has to catch up with implementing his classroom work out on the field, but also build chemistry with Williams.
2023 fourth-round pick Tyler Scott could be in danger of losing his roster spot amid solid springs from veteran Maurice Alexander and flashes from ex-Green Bay Packer Samori Toure.
Veteran Miles Bokin is the tallest, while UDFAs Jahdae Walker and J.P. Richardson flashed.
SAM LB a Small But Key Role
Strongside linebacker is a spot to watch for the Bears, with former starter and super-sub Jack Sanborn following ex-head coach Matt Eberflus to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency this offseason.
Noah Sewell, a fifth-round selection by the Bears in 2023, could get the first opportunity after working there this spring.
However, he could face a strong challenge from rookie fourth-rounder Ruben Hyppolite II.
Johnson named Hyppolite as the player who improved the most from start to finish this offseason, and he has the tools to be an effective complement to starters T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds.
Sanborn logged 22% of the Bears’ defensive snaps in 2024, per Pro Football Reference, with the Bears and the rest of the NFL often in nickel packages.
Still, Sanborn started 19 games in his three seasons with the Bears.
Whomever emerges as the starting SAM backer could also be first off the bench if something happens to Edmunds or Edwards, though both veterans logged full, 17-game regular season slates in 2024.